Post by Slade on Dec 30, 2020 10:20:11 GMT -5
Date: December 25, 2020
From: XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut
Commentary Team: Michael Cole, Tony Schiavone and Paul Heyman
Ring Announcer: Lillian Garcia
***
This week’s show began with John Cena coming out to the ring. He came to wish everyone in Hartford and everywhere across the WWE Universe happy holidays and a very merry Christmas. He said that he hasn’t been on TV much since the return of Smackdown. Other than winning his WWE Universal Championship opening round match, he’s kept a low profile. However, the suits granted him one wish for Christmas and that was to have a match on this special 3-hour edition of Smackdown and get a win for all his fans. He made an open challenge to anyone in the back to take their best shot at the face that runs the place.
The Miz and John Morrison came out. They made fun of Cena and insulted him for his pathetic attempt at sucking up to the fans. Morrison said it was nice that Cena won his match but unfortunate for him that it is the only win he’s getting because he has to take on the Mayor of Slamtown in round two. The Miz said that he and Morrison would gladly show him how awesome they are right now if he could find a tag team partner who could tolerate him. After a few moments, “Latino Heat” was heard throughout the arena. Eddie Guerrero answered the call and said that he would join Cena.
JOHN CENA & EDDIE GUERRERO vs. THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON
This was a match with a lot of heat. The fans were really into this one. The Miz and Morrison turned the dial up to ten with their heel antics and Cena and Guerrero won over the fans with ease. The and Morrison cheated every chance they got, but so too did Latino Heat. Morrison untied a turnbuckle pad, but it came back to haunt him when Guerrero gave him a catapult into it and then a delayed high-angle belly-to-back suplex. The Miz complained about the turnbuckle and claimed that Guerrero took it off. He pulled Morrison out of the ring and attacked Guerrero, giving him the Skull-Crushing Finale. Guerrero kicked out, much to his surprise. Not long after, Guerrero made the hot tag. Cena came in and hit some clotheslines, jumping shoulder tackles, a spin-out powerbomb and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Morrison ran in to attack, but Cena lifted him onto his shoulders and dumped Morrison on top of The Miz with an Attitude Adjustment. He tagged in Guerrero, who gave The Miz a frog splash and pinned him for the win. (14:31)
Winners: John Cena & Eddie Guerrero
***
REY MYSTERIO JR. vs. PENTA EL 0M
The action was fast and exciting at most times, but Penta liked to slow it down when he could take control. Many high flying quick attacks led to counts of two-and-a-half to two-and-three-quarters. When Penta executed the Mexican destroyer, it seemed like the match was definitely over, but Mysterio still shouldered out of the pin. Penta took Mysterio to the ring apron to try for a package piledriver, but Mysterio wrapped an arm around the middle rope and refused to let go. Eventually, Penta had to let him go and try to strike him, but Mysterio ducked and executed a reverse-rana on the ring apron. Mysterio barely got Penta back in the ring on time. After he did, he gave him the Droppin’ Tha Dime springboard diving leg drop and pinned him for the win. (19:03)
Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr.
***
Jonathan Coachman caught up with Keith Lee backstage to ask him his thoughts on his second round WWE Universal Championship tournament match versus “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase next week. Lee said that a lot of people have been asking him about his past relationship with DiBiase and what that means for him next week. He wanted to assure all his fans that what happened in the past will be left in the past. His past association with DiBiase came a time when he was looking for his big break. He is grateful to have gotten it. But that was a long time ago and since then, Lee has been out to make a name for himself. There is no limit to what he can achieve, and he doesn’t need anyone or anything to help him get there.
It was at this time that DiBiase entered the picture to tell Lee that he couldn’t be happier to see that Lee make it to the second round. He told Lee that he expects him to do the right thing next week, and when he does, he’ll be rewarded handsomely. Lee said he’ll do the right thing and his reward will be a spot in the quarterfinals. DiBiase asked what it will take for him to see the light. Lee said he’s seen the light and it taught him to bank on himself. That’s why next week, DiBiase is going to be the one who’ll bask in HIS glory.
***
THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs. DEUCE & DOMINO
The Dudley Boys executed the 3-D on Domino and Bubba Ray pinned him to pick up the win for his team. (4:52)
Winners: The Dudley Boyz
***
Jonathan Coachman interviewed Rhea Ripley, asking her why she turned on Jazz at the end of their tag team match against the Bella Twins last week. Ripley tells Coachman that it was simply because Jazz is a loser. She likes to say that she is the baddest bitch, but two weeks in a row, she has laid down on the mat for Nikki Bella and that is a joke. Jazz has cost Ripley two opportunities to beat Nikki Bella, and one of those was for a shot at the Mash-Up Wrestling Women’s Champion. Jazz doesn’t deserve her respect and she got what she deserved.
***
BETH PHOENIX, NIKKI CROSS & TONI STORM vs. THE RIOTT SQUAD
This 6-woman tag team match marked the in-ring debut of Liv Morgan. Beth Phoenix was appearing for the first time since Survivor Series, herself. Nikki Cross and Toni Storm had problems staying on the same page in a prior tag team match versus Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan. The Riott Squad had the advantage as they were used to teaming together. Unfamiliarity as partners put Phoenix, Cross and Storm at a disadvantage. Near the end of the match, Logan shoved Morgan out of the way of a running crossbody attempt by Cross, causing her to take out Storm. Logan knocked them both out of the ring with a double clothesline at the ropes. Not long after, Phoenix executed the Glam Slam on Morgan and flipped her over for the pin, but Logan broke it up. Phoenix was able to dump her out of the ring, but Riott gave her a Riott Kick that stunned her. Morgan followed it up with Oblivion and pinned her for the win. (11:28)
Winners: The Riott Squad
***
BOOKER T vs. “COWBOY” JAMES STORM
This match was highly competitive. They took the fight to each other. Both gave as good as they got. Storm came close to collective the victory after executing Closing Time and the Eight Second Ride. Booker T thought he had the match won with the Harlem Hangover but Storm kicked out. The match ended when Storm went for the Last Call superkick, but Booker T leaned out of the way. He buried a knee into Storm’s abdomen, then got him with a spin kick to the mid-section, followed by a scissors kick. A spinaroonie brought him back to his feet and then he executed the Book End to collect the victory. (15:17)
Winners: Booker T
***
Jonathan Coachman caught up with Hulk Hogan, AJ Styles, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa to ask them for their thoughts on tonight’s main event. Each member of the team got a chance to say something. Everyone said why they felt that in spite of their lack of experience teaming together, their team is more talented than Imperium and they would be getting the in tonight’s big 8-man tag team match. Hulk Hogan added that everyone has been asking the Hulkster how he felt to get chopped down by the hand of WALTER. He acknowledges that it stung. But that sting has awoken something deep down inside of the Hulkster. It reminded him not to rest on his laurels. So he’s been training hard all week, saying his prayers and taking his vitamins, and now he’s ready for anything. Tonight, he invites WALTER to throw a chop at him, but he promises Coach that the same thing won’t happen as last week. Tonight, this big red wood won’t get cut down. Tonight, it’ll stand strong and Hulkamania will run wild on Imperium!
***
ADAM PAGE vs. JACK EVANS
Jack Evans bumped like crazy for Adam Page. While he took the brunt of the beating dolled out in this one, he still used many exciting acrobatic maneuvers to make it an entertaining contest. In the end, Page executed the Buckshot Lariat to get the win. (7:50)
Winner: Adam Page
***
DOMINIK DIJAKOVIC vs. JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD
Ted DiBiase joined Michael Cole, Tony Schiavone and Paul Heyman for the broadcast and boasted about how they were in for a real treat when they saw who Dijakovic’s opponent would be. Dijakovic came to the ring first and then the sound of a stock market bell and horns signalled the arrival of a long white limousine adorned with a bull horn hood ornament. John Bradshaw Layfield entered the ring and thus began a stiff brawl between two powerful and quick heavyweights. When they fought on the outside, JBL cleared off the announce table, but Dijakovic fought back. Then, he got a huge pop for executing a corkscrew Asai moonsault on JBL. Dijakovic pointed at the table, getting another pop. This prompted DiBiase to get up – with his headset still on – and shout at him to stop what he was doing and to yell at the referee to disqualify him. Dijakovic got distracted by this and got into a heated exchange with DiBiase. It was enough to cause him to get dropped with a Clothesline From Hell. After that, JBL picked up Dijakovic and put him through the table with a JBL Bomb. JBL returned to the ring and demanded the referee countout Dijakovic, which he then did. After getting the win, DiBiase joined JBL in the ring and raised his hand. They left the ring together and got in the back of the limo, leaving the arena together. (12:23)
Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield
***
Jonathan Coachman interviewed Imperium. Each member of the team spoke, telling Coachman why they were the favourites to win tonight’s main event. WALTER finished the interview by telling Hulk Hogan that the one single chop he gave him was a small taste of what it is like to be in the squared circle with the Ring General. He asked Hogan to imagine what 10 or 15 or even 20 minutes of that would feel like. Tonight, he won’t need to imagine it anymore. Hogan made a mistake by challenging Imperium to a match. Tonight, WALTER, Wolfe, Aichner and Barthel will show the world why the scared grounds of the wrestling mat belong to Imperium.
***
MASH-UP WRESTLING WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ASUKA vs. NIKKI BELLA
ASUKA vs. NIKKI BELLA
As was the case in their match at Survivor Series, Nikki Bella attempted to get the win with the help of her sister, Brie, who came into the ring with a chair as Nikki distracted the referee with a fake injury. Brie tried to hit Asuka but she caught the chair and got into a tug of war with Brie over it. Nikki miraculously recovered and went to attack Asuka from behind, but won the tug of war and turned to face Nikki, who begged her not to use it. Brie dropkicked Asuka from behind, causing her to involuntarily spit mist in Nikki’s face. Brie went to check on her sister and tried to stop Asuka from getting at her, so Asuka gave her a spin kick to knock her out. Then, she put Nikki in the Asuka Lock and forced her to submit. (10:54)
Winner: Asuka
***
Jonathan Coachman interviewed Jazz, asking for her response to the comments made earlier in the evening by Rhea Ripley. Jazz says that Nikki and Brie Bella are both gonna get theirs soon, but first, she’s going to have to show Rhea Ripley why she is unquestionably the baddest bitch in WWE. If Ripley wants to find out, she can find out next week inside the ring.
***
8-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
HULK HOGAN, AJ STYLES, JOHNNY GARGANO & TOMMASO CIAMPA
vs.
WALTER, ALEXANDER WOLFE, FABIAN AICHNER & MARCEL BARTHEL
HULK HOGAN, AJ STYLES, JOHNNY GARGANO & TOMMASO CIAMPA
vs.
WALTER, ALEXANDER WOLFE, FABIAN AICHNER & MARCEL BARTHEL
With so many superstars in our main event, a quick pace was maintained through most of the match. Early on, Gargano was isolated from his corner by Imperium. After he made the hot tag to AJ Styles, he took take of business and managed to isolate Wolfe from his corner. When Wolfe executed a powerslam on Ciampa, both men crawled to their corners for the double hot tag, bringing Hogan and WALTER into the ring at the same time. A test of strength went back-and-forth until WALTER booted Hogan in the mid-section and took him into a side headlock. Hogan sent him running and they went for running clotheslines but neither superstar went off his feet. They tried again, and again they both stayed on their feet. Hogan implored WALTER to throw his best chop and he did. While it stung Hogan, and he tensed up, he didn’t go down. WALTER threw another and another and this got Hogan to start Hulking up so WALTER gave him a running big boot to stop Hogan from finding his other gear and then he tagged out.
Several minutes went by before the match entered its final phase with Styles executing a phenomenal forearm on Wolfe and then giving him the Styles Clash. Aichner and Barthel broke up the pinfall attempt. Gargano and Ciampa ran in and then WALTER and Hogan entered the ring. As bodies were sent out of the ring. Wolfe tagged out to Aichner, who immediately tagged Barthel. Together, they gave Styles a powerbomb and diving European uppercut combo. Barthel pinned him and Ciampa made the save. Order broke down as everyone entered the ring again. Through the madness, Hogan and Wolfe ended up as the legal men. Hogan hulked up on Wolfe, giving him an atomic drop, bodyslam and big boot. When he went to the ropes to gain momentum for the leg drop, Barthel pulled down on the top rope, sending Hogan crashing down to the floor. As he went over, Ciampa made the blind tag and then gave Barthel a diving knee to the face. Aichner came around to brawl with Ciampa, and then so too did Gargano and Styles. Wolfe tagged out to WALTER, who climbed a turnbuckle and performed a splash onto everyone. When he got up, he brought Ciampa back into the ring and gave him a folding powerbomb before putting him in a rear naked choke hold. Ciampa passed out in the hold while his teammates brawled with the rest of Imperium outside the ring. (22:16)
Winners: Imperium
***